Apparatus, method and graphical user interface for providing a sound link for combining, publishing and accessing websites and audio files on the internet

ABSTRACT

A system for linking together and publishing websites and audio files together, as one unit, by anyone on the Internet, generating a single link referred to as a Sound Link that is able to then be accessed and launched from anywhere on the Internet by a user, generating a combination visual and audio experience for the user who clicks on the Sound Link that was generated. The Sound Link launches the website while playing the audio file associated with that website. A website is any content that is accessible on the Internet including full websites and their components including text documents, graphics, games, photos, advertisement, files, video, and other website content. Audio includes any audio file that is accessible on the Internet. The system is referred to as an Audio-Website Link Generation and Access System for purposes of describing the system.

RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation application of the co-pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/985,620, filed Nov. 16, 2007 and entitled“AN APPARATUS, METHOD AND GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR PROVIDING A SOUNDLINK FOR COMBINING, PUBLISHING AND ACCESSING WEBSITES AND AUDIO FILES ONTHE INTERNET” which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of theco-owned U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 60/859,394, filedNov. 16, 2006, and entitled, “AN APPARATUS, METHOD AND GRAPHICAL USERINTERFACE FOR PROVIDING A SOUND LINK FOR COMBINING, PUBLISHING ANDACCESSING WEBSITES AND AUDIO FILES ON THE INTERNET.” The ProvisionalPatent Application, Ser. No. 60/859,394, filed Nov. 16, 2006, andentitled, “AN APPARATUS, METHOD AND GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FORPROVIDING A SOUND LINK FOR COMBINING, PUBLISHING AND ACCESSING WEBSITESAND AUDIO FILES ON THE INTERNET” is also hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the Internet. More specifically, thepresent invention relates to providing a Sound Link for combining,publishing and accessing websites and audio files on the Internet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the past, the Internet has been essentially a quiet experience. Thebasic foundation of the Internet, websites, rarely have any audioassociated with them that is relevant to that website. If the websitesdo have audio, the audio is not generally related to the content of thewebsite. An exception to the Internet being quiet is music and videothat are offered on the Internet, but in these cases, the website isused more as a delivery vehicle, to allow the user to stream or downloadthe music or video, rather than to have the audio describe, enhance orrelate to the website itself.

When there is audio associated with a website, the audio is generallyhosted on the servers of the website owner, and the webmaster of thewebsite placed the audio, meaning the audio location and the means foraccessing that audio file, are directly on the website server within thewebsite source code html. Or the webmaster uses audio that is notdirectly on the servers of the website, but it is still the webmaster,who has access to the source code and html of the website andspecialized skills, who adds audio to the website.

The webmaster has specialized skills to add audio to a website, plus thewebmaster has special access to be able to modify the source code orhtml of the website.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system for linking together and publishing websites and audio filestogether, as one unit, by anyone on the Internet, generating a singlelink referred to as a Sound Link that is able to then be accessed andlaunched from anywhere on the Internet by a user, generating acombination visual and audio experience for the user who clicks on theSound Link that was generated. The Sound Link launches the website whileplaying the audio file associated with that website. A website is anycontent that is accessible on the Internet including full websites andtheir components including text documents, graphics, games, photos,advertisement, files, video, and other website content. Audio includesany audio file that is accessible on the Internet. The system isreferred to as an Audio-Website Link Generation and Access System forpurposes of describing the system.

In one aspect, an apparatus for generating a Sound Link comprises aprocessor and an application processed by the processor for generatingthe Sound Link including a website address for a website and an audiofile location for an audio file. The application includes a graphicaluser interface for receiving input. The input includes a websiteaddress, an audio file address and a name. The website is hosted by afirst host and the audio file is hosted by a second host. The website isconfigured to open approximately simultaneously with the audio file.

In another aspect, a method of presenting a website and an audio fileutilizing a computing device comprises inputting information into thecomputing device, processing the information using an application togenerate a Sound Link including a website address of the website and anaudio file location of the audio file, displaying the website andplaying the audio file approximately simultaneously with displaying thewebsite. The information is input using a graphical user interface. Theinput includes the website address, the audio file location and a name.The website and the audio file are presented on a single page. Thewebsite and the audio file are presented on two separate pages. Themethod further comprises emailing the Sound Link.

In another aspect, a system for administering a Sound Link utilizing acomputing device comprises a generate module for generating the SoundLink including a website address for a website and an audio filelocation for an audio file and a user module operatively coupled withthe generate module, the user module for presenting the Sound Link. Thesystem further comprises a recording module operatively coupled with thegenerate module, the recording module for recording an audio file. Thegenerate module is further configured for editing, deleting and managingthe Sound Link. The generate module further comprises a graphical userinterface for receiving input. The input includes a website address, anaudio file address and a name.

In another aspect, an interface presented on a computing device, theinterface for generating a Sound Link comprises a website component forreceiving website location information, an audio component for receivingaudio file location information, a name component for receiving a nameof the Sound Link and a submit component operatively coupled to thewebsite component, the audio component and the name component, thesubmit component to submit the website location, the audio file locationand the name to be processed by the computing device.

In yet another aspect, a Sound Link presented on a computing device, theSound Link comprises a website address of a website and an audio filelocation of an audio file. The website and the audio file are presentedapproximately simultaneously when the Sound Link is clicked. A generatorof the Sound Link is not an owner of the website. The Sound Linkincludes an indicator to distinguish the Sound Link from a standardlink.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a flow chart of a process of generating and using aSound Link in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates several of the main ways in which a Sound Link isable to be accessed by a user, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a graphical user interface that is used to receivedata to generate a Sound Link in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the output after the Generator has input theinformation for a Sound Link and pressed the generate button.

FIG. 5 illustrates a graphical representation of an exemplary computingdevice in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an Audio-Website Link Generationand Access System in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An Audio-Website Link Generation and Access System allows someone withno special skills or special access to the source code or html of awebsite, to add audio to that website or any website, and generate asingle link which plays audio and launches the website at the same time.As an example of this, a Sound Link looks like the following to a user:

Click Here to Launch this

The Sound Link is able to be any text, for example, the name of thewebsite. When a user clicks on the Sound Link, which was generated bysomeone with no special skills and no access to the source code of thewebsite, the Sound Link does two main things:

1. Launch the website associated with the Sound Link (for example:www.website.com)

2. Launch/play the audio associated with the Sound Link (for example:www.anywhere.com/ahello.mp3)

There has been a proliferation of both websites and audio files on theInternet, whereby today there are literally millions of both that exist.Websites generally have a .com, .net, .org or another type of extension(for example: www.website.com), and audio files have differentextensions including but not limited to .mp3, .wav and .au (for example:www.anywhere.com/audio.mp3).

The Audio-Website Link Generation and Access System allows anyone on theInternet to decide that a specific audio file matches a specific websitefor a creative or business reason (for example: the audio might be funnywhen associated with the website, or the audio might provide moreinformation to make the website more useful, or the audio might inspirethe user to explore further on the website.) The person who matches theaudio file and the website together is able to then generate a singleSound Link to launch the website and audio file together, and throughany of many different means either publish or send the Sound Link toanyone on the Internet. On a grander scale, a search directory or searchengine, such as Google® or Yahoo!®, is able to have audio filesassociated with each website that the search engine or directorydisplays, and these audio files are actually generated and published byusers of the Audio-Website Link Generation and Access System, not byYahoo!® or Google® themselves. So anyone is able to generate a SoundLink composed of a listing in a search engine or directory combined withan audio file, for example, giving their opinion on that website.

The Audio-Website Link Generation and Access System allows expanded useof audio on the Internet, as it relates to websites. The system is ableto be used by anyone, not just the webmaster or people who controlaccess to a website, but by anyone who wishes to generate a way forthemselves, and for others, to launch a website in association with anyaudio file accessible on the Internet. In other words, anyone is able toview a website and an audio file, link them together in a Sound Link andpublish that Sound Link for others to use. In some instances, thewebsite and the audio are stored/hosted on different hosts.

The Audio-Website Link Generation and Access System is able to be usedfor many purposes, including but not limited to the following:

1. To generate voiceovers or audio tours of websites, which are able tobe instructional, informational or entertaining. These voiceovers areable to be generated by anyone.

2. To associate interesting, ironic, clever or funny audio files withwebsites, such as a famous recorded line from an old movie that relatesto the website.

3. Audio books, to relate audio recordings of books with their digitalbook counterparts on the Internet.

4. As personal greetings whereby a website and audio file are associatedtogether for a specific person, for example for a birthday. Linkingtogether a birthday audio file with the birthday person's favoritewebsite, and then sending that person the Sound Link in an email.

5. To deepen or lengthen the experience of using a website, appropriateaudio such as music is able to be used and Linked together with thewebsite.

6. To offer audio commentary or opinion on the website, that is notdirectly related to the content of the website but is determined to beinteresting. For example, a user is able to go to a news website, whilehearing an opinion about the day's news from a voice audio file. Or thataudio news file is able to be played along with any website using aSound Link.

7. To express an opinion, using an audio file, about the website itself,so that other people on the Internet are able to hear this opinion aboutthe website. This could also be used to get feedback from a selectedgroup of individuals, allowing only certain people to hear thisfeedback, for example, in testing the effectiveness of a website.

8. For the seeing impaired, the audio track for a website is able to aidin communicating what the website is and does.

9. Advertising and promotion are able to be the main purpose of theaudio file, which plays while users view the associated website.

10. For instructional purposes, on how to use the website.

11. Independent third parties are able to build up their own directoriesof websites with accompanying audio files, such that it is a “talkingdirectory.” Similar to a search engine or directory like Yahoo!® orGoogle®, except with accompanying audio files which is useful indetermining how much time to spend on a website in the directory.

The above-listed purposes are intended as examples, and are not meant tolimit the invention in any way. One of the main features of theAudio-Website Link Generation and Access System is that it allows anywebsite and any audio file to be combined into a Sound Link, so as withother Internet-related technologies, it is anticipated that new andinteresting uses of the Audio-Website Link Generation and Access Systemwill be found by people on the Internet, when they use their creativeimagination. There are literally billions of unique Sound Links that areable to be generated using the Audio-Website Link Generation and AccessSystem when one looks at the unique combinations of websites and audiofiles available for access on the Internet.

The Audio-Website Link Generation and Access System also allows a userto:

1. Bring together any website and any audio file accessible on theInternet and combine them. By website, this additionally includes anydocument, such as PDF file, or image, or other content where the contentis displayed on the screen, or parts and segments of websites likefiles, documents, images and photos. The audio file and the website areable to reside anywhere where files are accessible by the Internet,including on hosted servers, on so-called file-sharing networks, onaudio recording devices such as voice mail systems, and on personalcomputers or desktops, which are made accessible on the Internet throughvarious “personal media server” software which allow a person's personalcomputer to act as a server whereby others access the content on theperson's personal computer.

2. Generate a special link (“Sound Link”) whereby anyone else, meaningnot necessarily the person who generated the Sound Link, is able toclick on the Sound Link, and the website and audio file are launchedsimultaneously, or very close together in time. This gives the personwho clicks on the Sound Link the impression that the website has anaudio track associated with it.

3. The Generator and publisher of the Sound Link, which ties together awebsite and audio file, is able to be anyone who uses the Audio-WebsiteLink Generation and Access System, meaning it does not have to be theowner of the website.

4. The Sound Links are able to reside anywhere on the Internet, withinother websites, which are not directly associated with the website oraudio file on the Sound Link. As well, the Sound Links are able toreside in emails, blogs, or other places within the Internet. The SoundLinks are also able to be placed in a database, so that they are able tobe played back in a particular order, or they are able to be played backautomatically, similar to an automated slide show, where pages ofwebsites appear, accompanied by the corresponding audio tracks, whilethe user watches, without necessarily pressing any keys on the keyboard.

5. Generate a centralized directory of Sound Links, which aresearchable, creating a website search engine whereby when the websitesare launched, by clicking on the Sound Link, the websites have audioassociated with them. The directory is able to be searched by multiplemeans, including the text associated with the website and audiorecording, as well as newer means for actually searching the audioitself are able to be used.

The Audio-Website Link Generation and Access System functions asfollows:

1. The person who wants to generate a Sound Link (“Generator”) uses aname and password to enter into a Generate module of the Audio/WebsiteProduction and Linking System. Alternatively, the Audio-Website LinkGeneration and Access System is able to allow anyone to generate a SoundLink, without entering any information about themselves or a password.The Generate module allows the Generator to build, edit, delete, andmanage all of the Sound Links that the Generator generates. This processoccurs using a graphical user interface where the Generator is presentedwith open boxes or windows in which they fill in the information aboutthe Sound Link which they want to generate.

2. The graphical user interface includes a window to enter the URL of awebsite, a window to enter the URL of an audio file, and a window toenter the name or title of the Sound Link. There are multiple otheritems which the Generate module is able to contain to allow theGenerator to add information which is published in association with theSound Link, or is kept non-published but associated with the Sound Linkso that the Generator is able to access it.

3. The Generate module has several places to input information, thethree most important places being: the URL of the website which is goingto be used for creating the Sound Link, the URL of the audio file whichis going to be used for the Sound Link, and the name or title of theSound Link, meaning the words used to name the Sound Link, which someoneclicks on to the launch the Sound Link.

4. The Generator inputs information including the website, audio filelocation and name. This is able to be done by typing in the information,or using the cut and paste method, so the information comes fromsomewhere else and is “cut and pasted” into the correct place on theGenerate module. Or the information is also able to be spoken into theGenerate module, using voice recognition software which converts thespoken words into usable information to generate the Sound Link. For thewebsite and audio file URL, the Generator is able to cut and paste theinformation from the window while either of those is present on thecomputer screen, meaning when the website is launched the user is ableto cut the URL for the website, and when the audio file is launched, theGenerator is able to cut the URL for the audio file from that screenwhile the audio file is launched.

5. The Generator also enters in additional information about the SoundLink which the Generator is going to generate, including descriptiveinformation, subject or other information which will either be publishedwith the Sound Link or is able to be used for administrative purposes.

6. When the appropriate information is input by the Generator, theGenerator then pushes the Generate or Build button in the Generatemodule, which indicates that the Generator wishes to now build the SoundLink.

7. The Audio-Website Link Generation and Access System then uses acomputing device and a scripting language to associate or embed thewebsite and audio file and text description of the Sound Link togetheras one unit, such that when the Sound Link is launched or accessed, boththe website and the audio file are seen and heard respectively. Thereare multiple methods of creating a computer program or statement usingcomputer and scripting languages, for example, in HTML there are severalways, including the BGSOUND, EMBED, META, and FRAMES. Using HTML, forexample, an HTML page, which is a template that does not yet have theinput from the Generator, is generated using the Audio-Website LinkGeneration and Access System which then uses the input from theGenerator of the system and makes an HTML page which places theappropriate information from the Generator's input into an HTMLstatement or page that is designed specifically to receive this input.The HTML page with the Generator's input information is able to resideanywhere, not necessarily within the HTML or source code of the website,but is a part of the Audio-Website Link Generation and Access System,meaning it is able to be accessed by anyone on the Internet using theAudio-Website Link Generation and Access System. The page that theGenerator generated does not access the source code of the website thatis launched by the Sound Link, nor does this page that was generatedrequire any specialized skills. There are other methods of playing audioon the Internet that are able to be utilized by the Audio-Website LinkGeneration and Access System, for example, Adobe Flash is able to playan audio file “on the fly”, meaning it is able to play back right whenit is generated, using such tools as VBScript and Actionscript. This isuseful when testing combinations of audio files and websites, for theGenerator, and needing immediate feedback as to whether or not to use aparticular Sound Link. Using the Audio-Website Link Generation andAccess System, the Generator is able to use all the capabilities of HTMLand other programming and scripting languages, to do such things as setthe amount of time for the audio to play then stop, or do delayed audioplayback, or switch between audio files. For example, in aninstructional Sound Link, a program is able to allow for 10 seconds andthen ask “Do you need help?” in the audio file playback.

Then, the Audio-Website Link Generation and Access System uses theinformation input from the Generator and the name or title that theGenerator input as the title of the Sound Link, and makes the name ofthe Sound Link, so that it is underlined, as is customary on theInternet, or it is able to be in bold letters or there might be novisual indication at all that the name of the Sound Link is able to beclicked on. However, when the name of the Sound Link is clicked on, theSound Link then launches the audio file(s) and website(s) associatedwith the Sound Link, regardless of how the Sound Link is displayed tothe end-user. The Audio-Website Link Generation and Access System isable to add an insignia or character, for example, an asterisk orinfinity sign, which differentiates a Sound Link from a regular InternetLink, allowing the user to know before clicking on the Sound Link thatit is a Sound Link. In this way, prior to clicking on a link that is aSound Link, the user knows that it is a Sound Link as opposed to aregular link that only launches a website, without the audio file.

8. Alternatively, there are able to be multiple websites and multipleaudio files associated with a Sound Link. This means that in theGenerate module, the Generator is able to put in multiple URL's for boththe websites and audio files. Or there are able to be multiple audiofiles, with only one website, or multiple websites with only one audiofile. The Generator is able to then generate a “talking slide show”where the user launches the Sound Link once, and then multiple websitesand/or audio files appear. These websites and audio files are able to bedisplayed and heard through one of several techniques including beingable to be timed together, meaning that at specific time intervals,which are put in by the Generator, the website and/or audio filechanges. Or they are able to be associated by the way the user of theSound Link desires to use the Sound Link. For example, a user clicks andthen the website and/or audio file changes. Or they might changeaccording to other specifications, including the duration of the audiofile, meaning when the first audio file finishes, the website and/oraudio file changes. The Generator inputs this additional information inthe Generate module. In the Audio-Website Link Generation and AccessSystem, a website is any type of content that is accessible via thatInternet, including a single file, a photo, or something else.

9. Other features of the Generate module include the ability to edit ormodify existing Sound Links and add information such as relationshipsbetween Sound Links.

10. Sound Links are able to be joined together, so that multiple SoundLinks which have been previously generated, are joined to make one SoundLink whereby the multiple websites and audio files, from the individualSound Links, are launched by the user clicking on one Sound Link. Thisis different than associating multiple audio files with one Sound Link,as previously outlined. In this case, finished Sound Links are able tobe linked together to generate a “macro” Sound Link consisting ofmultiple finished Sound Links.

11. After the Sound Link has been generated, it is able to be used inseveral ways, some that are automatically generated by the Audio-WebsiteProduction and Linking System, and others which are choices of theGenerator or user of the Sound Link. The Sound Links are able to beautomatically put in directories whereby they are organized by topic,interest, name of Generator, and other information to make theseaccessible to the users of the Sound Link. Sound Links are able to berated or organized in other ways depending on their characteristics.

12. The HTML code for the Sound Link is generated by the Audio-WebsiteLink Generation and Access System and is able to then be taken by theSound Link Generator or anyone which the Audio-Website Link Generationand Access System determines should have access to this feature, andthat HTML for the Sound Link is able to be put on websites, blogs, inemails, and other areas on the Internet. The Sound Link istransportable. The Sound Link is able to be moved to other parts of theInternet which are not directly associated with the system, but theresults of the Generate module, whereby a template was filled in by theGenerator, are able to be inserted into other parts of the Internet, theassumption being that the code generated by the Generate module iswritten in a language, such as HTML, that is usable by the system whichthe Sound Link is transported to.

13. A Link to that specific Sound Link is generated, allowing someonefrom a website, blog, or in an email, to then Link directly to thatspecific Sound Link. This means that the Sound Link is able to beaccessed from anywhere on the Internet.

14. The Audio-Website Link Generation and Access System also has a Usermodule, which allows users to use Sound Links in different ways. Thebasic way in which a Sound Link is used, is the user clicks on the SoundLink which simultaneously launches a website and an audio file. The Usermodule contains many Sound Links organized by such things as interest,topic, rating, Generator, and all of this information is alsosearchable. So after browsing or searching for a Sound Link, a userlaunches a Sound Link by clicking on the Sound Link.

15. The preferred method of launching a Sound Link is to launch thewebsite in a browser window, and at the top of the window is the audioplayer, meaning a small version of the screen that launches the audiofile. This means they are joined together in one unit, the website andthe audio file. The advantage of this method is that the user is able tosee the audio play buttons, such as start and stop, so that the user hascontrol over their audio without, for example, having to manually turnoff their speakers to stop the audio or without using the computer'smain audio control buttons. Alternatively, the website might be launchedand the audio file window also launched in full, preferably behind thewebsite window, so the website is able to be seen first without the userneeding to do any additional moving of the windows. Alternatively, thewebsite is able to be launched without any access to the audio player,the sound just plays and there is no alternate screen to see the audioplayer.

16. In the User module, a user is also able to rate each Sound Link,read additional information about the Sound Link which has been put inby the Generator, see associated Sound Links, or send an email to afriend telling them about the Sound Link.

17. If an email is sent to a friend, the friend is able to then click ona Link and either the Sound Link will automatically open, or the friendis brought back to the page with contains the Sound Link, in which casethe friend is able to then click on the Sound Link.

18. There are other associated modules for the Audio-Website LinkGeneration and Access System including a module for assisting people inrecording their own original audio files and placing the audio files onthe Internet, a module for helping Generators find audio files on theInternet, and a module for allowing other websites to put the fullAudio-Website Link Generation and Access System on their website,allowing Sound Links to be generated in multiple locations on theInternet, not just in one location where a single Audio-Website LinkGeneration and Access System resides. The assumption in theAudio-Website Link Generation and Access System is that the audio fileand the website combined to make a Sound Link have already beengenerated prior to using the Audio-Website Link Generation and AccessSystem. However, in some embodiments, the Audio-Website Link Generationand Access System are able to be integrated and combined with othersystems, such as a system allowing for the recording of audio, so thatonce an audio file is recorded it is immediately available to be placedin the Audio-Website Link Generation and Access System. Or, for example,multiple websites are able to be predesignated as needing audio files,and then by combining the Audio-Website Link Generation and AccessSystem with an audio recording system, a person with a voice is able torecord audio for each website, and while recording that audio, thataudio is combined with each respective website with the Audio-WebsiteLink Generation and Access System.

FIG. 1 illustrates a flow chart of a process of generating and using aSound Link in accordance with the present invention. In the step 100, aGenerator inputs data. For example, the Generator inputs a websiteaddress, an address/location of the audio file to be played inconjunction with the website address, a name/title for the Sound Linkand additional information. In the step 102, the Sound Link is generatedby a computing device implementing a program and/or script. In someembodiments, generating the Sound Link includes making the Sound Linkavailable for display or transportation to a website, an email, a blogor another location. In the step 104, a user clicks on the Sound Link.Upon clicking the Sound Link, the audio file and the website arepresented, in the step 106. In some embodiments, the audio file and thewebsite are displayed as one page, and in some embodiments, the audiofile and the website are displayed as separate pages.

FIG. 2 illustrates several of the main ways in which a Sound Link isable to be accessed by a user, in accordance with the present invention.The ways include clicking from a website 200 where there is a collectionof Sound Links, clicking within an email 202 to launch the Sound Link,and clicking within a blog 204 to launch the Sound Link. In websites,the Sound Links are able to be ordered as desired such as by categoriesin the website 200, by date in a website 200′, by Generator in a website200″, by rating in a website 20′″ or another criteria. In someembodiments, the links are accessed in other ways beyond clicking suchas tabbing and hitting the enter key.

FIG. 3 illustrates a graphical user interface 300 that is used toreceive data to generate a Sound Link in accordance with the presentinvention. A Generator inputs the Website URL, Audio file location orURL, title of the Sound Link, their name, and a description. Additionalinformation is able to be input as well, including, but not limited to,geographic information, time of generation and subject category ofwebsite. The data is input using text boxes or a similar mechanism forreceiving data. The data is then submitted by pressing the enter key orclicking a generate button.

FIG. 4 illustrates the output after the Generator has input theinformation for a Sound Link and pressed the generate button. Theinformation, including the Sound Link itself, is then available foranyone to use, including clicking on the Sound Link and reading theinformation entered by the Generator. Additionally, certain informationis generated by the Audio-Website Link Generation and Access System,including the HTML or URL that is needed to place the Sound Link withinan email, to Link back to or launch the Sound Link from there. As well,the HTML is generated, allowing anyone to place or embed the Sound Linkwithin any website.

FIG. 5 illustrates a graphical representation of an exemplary computingdevice 500 in accordance with the present invention. A Generator usesthe computing device 500 to view and input desired data. The computingdevice 500 is then used in conjunction with the Audio-Website LinkGeneration and Access System to generate a Sound Link. Users then usethe same or a separate computing device to access Sound Link. Ingeneral, a hardware structure suitable for implementing the computingdevice includes a network interface 502, a memory 504, a processor 506,I/O device(s) 508, a bus 510 and a storage device 512. The choice ofprocessor is not critical as long as a suitable processor withsufficient speed is chosen. The memory 504 is able to be anyconventional computer memory known in the art. The storage device 512 isable to include a hard drive, CDROM, CDRW, DVD, DVDRW, flash memory cardor any other appropriate storage device. The computing device is able toinclude one or more network interfaces 502. An example of a networkinterface includes a network card connected to an Ethernet or other typeof LAN. The I/O device(s) 508 are able to include one or more of thefollowing: keyboard, mouse, monitor, display, printer, modem and otherdevices. Software used to perform the methods of the present inventionare likely to be stored in the storage device 512 and memory 504 andprocessed as applications are typically processed.

Examples of suitable computing devices include a personal computer,laptop computer, computer workstation, a server, mainframe computer,handheld computer, personal digital assistant, cellular/mobiletelephone, smart appliance, gaming console or any other suitablecomputing device.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an Audio-Website Link Generationand Access System 600 in accordance with the present invention. TheAudio-Website Link Generation and Access System 600 includes a Generatemodule 602, a User module 604, a Recording module 606, a Sharing module608, a Search module 610 and additional modules 612. In someembodiments, fewer or additional modules are included. The Generatemodule 602 allows the Generator to build, edit, delete, and manage allof the Sound Links that the Generator generates. The User module 604allows users to use the Sound Links in different ways. The basic way inwhich a Sound Link is used, is the user clicks on the Sound Link whichsimultaneously launches a website and an audio file. The User module 604contains many Sound Links organized by such things as interest, topic,rating, Generator, and all of this information is also searchable. Soafter browsing or searching for a Sound Link, a user launches a SoundLink by clicking on the Sound Link. In the User module 604, a user mayalso rate each Sound Link, read additional information about the SoundLink which has been put in by the Generator, see associated Sound Links,or send an email to a friend telling them about the Sound Link. TheRecording module 606 assists people in recording their own originalaudio files and placing the files on the Internet. The Sharing module608 allows other websites to put the Audio-Website Link Generation andAccess System 600 on their website, allowing Sound Links to be generatedin multiple locations on the Internet. The Search module 610 helpsGenerators find audio files on the Internet. Additional modules 612 areable to be included in the Audio-Website Link Generation and AccessSystem 600 such as a website Generator and other modules.

To utilize the Audio-Website Link Generation and Access System, aGenerator enters in information though the use of a graphical userinterface. The information includes the location of the website, thelocation of the audio file, the chosen name of the Sound Link and anyother desired information. After inputting the information, a Sound Linkis generated using a computing device with the appropriateprograms/scripts. The Sound Link is then able to be posted on a website,sent via email or displayed as desired. Then, when a user clicks on theSound Link, both the website and the audio component will be openedsimultaneously or approximately simultaneously.

In operation, the Audio-Website Link Generation and Access Systemenables users to combine online content for a better user experience.This allows users to generate new online content using preexistingcontent. As an example of the applicability of the Audio-Website LinkGeneration and Access System, in the past, using known technology, whensomeone wanted to point out hypocrisy of a political candidate where thecandidate flip-flops on an issue, the user simply wrote in text or maybeeven copied a sound clip or video to his website showing the hypocrisy.However, to make a more powerful point, using the Audio-Website LinkGeneration and Access System, the user is able to use a Sound Link whichlinks to the website which states one thought by the political candidateand plays the hypocritical sound clip at the same time.

The present invention has been described in terms of specificembodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding ofprinciples of construction and operation of the invention. Suchreference herein to specific embodiments and details thereof is notintended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will bereadily apparent to one skilled in the art that other variousmodifications may be made in the embodiment chosen for illustrationwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for generating a sound link comprising: a. a processor; and b. an application processed by the processor that generates a new sound link by combining a webpage address link to a webpage file for a pre-existing webpage and an audio file location for an audio file, wherein the application comprises: a webpage component configured to receive data from a user representing pre-existing webpage location information; an audio component configured to receive data from the user representing audio file location information; wherein the new sound link opens both the pre-existing webpage and the audio file when selected, displays the webpage and the audio file on a single page and automatically commences playback of the audio file, wherein the new sound link delays the commencement of the playback of the audio file for a pre-determined delay period.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the application includes a graphical user interface for receiving input.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the input includes a webpage address, an audio file address and a name.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the webpage is hosted by a first host and the audio file is hosted by a second host.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the webpage is configured to open approximately simultaneously with the audio file.
 6. A method of presenting a pre-existing webpage and an audio file utilizing a computing device comprising: a. inputting information into the computing device, wherein the information comprises a webpage location of the pre-existing webpage and an audio file location of the audio file; b. generating a new sound link with an application on the computing device by combining a webpage address link to the webpage location with a link to the audio file location; and c. commencing playing of the audio file upon selection of the new sound link and commencing displaying of the pre-existing webpage upon selection of the new sound link, wherein the webpage and the audio file are displayed on a single page and the new sound link delays the commencement of the playing of the audio file for a pre-determined delay period.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the information is input using a graphical user interface.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the input includes the webpage address, the audio file location and a name.
 9. The method of claim 6 further comprising inserting the sound link into an email such that the sound link is able to be selected from within the email.
 10. A non-transitory computer readable media storing a sound link for presentation on a computing device, the sound link comprising: a. a webpage address link to the webpage location; and b. a link to an audio file location of an audio file, wherein playing of the audio file and displaying of the webpage is commenced upon the selection of the sound link, wherein the webpage and the audio file are displayed on a single page and the sound link delays the commencement of the playback of the audio file for a pre-determined delay period.
 11. The sound link of claim 10 wherein a generator of the sound link is not an owner of the webpage.
 12. The sound link of claim 10 wherein the sound link includes an indicator to distinguish the sound link from a standard link. 